Harris and Trump Face Off in Crucial 2024 Debate as Election Race Tightens

The 2024 presidential election reaches a critical milestone as Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump prepare for their first—and possibly only—debate on Tuesday at the National Constitution Centre in Philadelphia.

With early voting set to begin this month in key battleground states and just eight weeks remaining until Election Day, the debate is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the race’s outcome.

Long-time Republican strategist David Kochel highlighted the debate’s importance: “It’s high, high, high stakes. This is going to be an important moment in the campaign.” Both campaigns ramp up their strategies as the candidates prepare for this high-stakes event.

MOSINEE, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 07: Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump departs a campaign event at the Central Wisconsin Airport on September 07, 2024, in Mosinee, Wisconsin. A recent poll showed that Trump trailed Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in the battleground state. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Harris, who recently emerged as the Democratic nominee after President Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the race, has intensively prepared for the debate.

She spent several days in a “debate camp” downtown Pittsburgh, engaging in mock debates and strategy sessions. Harris arrived in Philadelphia on Monday evening to finalise her preparations.

In contrast, Trump’s approach has been less formal. Over the weekend, he was seen at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, participating in policy sessions with aides and attending a campaign rally in Wisconsin. On the day of the debate, Trump will confer with advisers at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, before travelling to Philadelphia for the 9 p.m.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a Labor Day campaign event at IBEW Local Union #5 on September 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

ET debate is broadcast live on Fox News Channel.

Both candidates have sharpened their attacks leading up to the debate. Harris has criticised Trump’s honesty, suggesting that he is unrestrained by truthfulness. Her campaign has also released an ad focusing on Trump’s age and his preoccupation with crowd sizes, using clips from former President Barack Obama’s recent critique during the Democratic National Convention.

Trump has targeted Harris with personal attacks, questioning her intelligence and racial identity. He has also set the stage for claims of a “rigged” debate, accusing ABC News, the debate’s host, of bias against him. Trump’s campaign emphasises the need to link Harris to the unpopular aspects of Biden’s presidency, particularly concerning inflation and other issues.

The debate will follow the same format as previous Biden-Trump debates, including muted microphones during responses and no studio audience. Moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis from ABC News will oversee the event. Both candidates will be limited to using a pen, pad, and water bottle and prohibited from using pre-written notes or consulting with campaign staff during breaks.

As the debate approaches, Harris aims to avoid major gaffes, connect with undecided voters, and counter criticisms that she is more liberal than progressive leaders like Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Trump, meanwhile, will focus on avoiding further alienation of female voters and effectively tying Harris to Biden’s administration.

Following the debate, both candidates will resume their campaigns, with Harris heading to North Carolina for rallies and Trump travelling to Arizona.

The outcome of Tuesday’s discussion is expected to be a defining moment in the 2024 election, potentially influencing voter perceptions and shifting the dynamics of the race in its final weeks.

Sola Adeniji

News Reporter, Freelancer, and content creator

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